Summary project description
The Nordic-Baltic Pilot Project is a three year programme that aims to strengthen the cooperation and develop concrete activities to support and assist women victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation in the region.
The Nordic Baltic pilot project includes partners from all the Nordic and Baltic countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden) working together to develop the best possible models for support to women victims of trafficking (VOTs), based on a victim-centred approach that first and foremost looks to the interests and needs of women VOTs.
The three-year project aims to develop a regional program designed to provide for the legal, social economic, medical and psychological care, safety and protection of the victims of trafficking in the countries of destination, as well as facilitate the safe return and integration of victims of trafficking, who want to return to their country or origin, ensuring that the women have access to necessary services to support their rehabilitation. Another aim of the project is to strengthen the gender equality perspective in policies, programmes and work against trafficking - and in particular in victim support.
The Nordic-Baltic project is co-ordinated by the European Women’s Lobby appointed by the Nordic-Baltic Taskforce against trafficking in human beings. The project is funded by the Nordic Countries, and runs over a three-year period to start with 1 October 2005 – 30 September 2008.
Key features of the project:
* Development of a Nordic-Baltic Inter-agency Network
A regional inter-agency Network has been set up, including public agencies and NGOs from all Nordic and Baltic countries who work with, support and protect women victims of trafficking. The Network meets regularly to develop and share experiences and expertise, to develop common standards and guidelines for victim support, and to identify and agree on regional priorities, etc.
* Strengthened national networking processes and National inter-agency teams
The Nordic Baltic pilot project encourages and enhances national inter-agency networking. The role of the national networking process is to gather all key stakeholders with the aim to ensure improved victim support at national level through an increased cooperation, coordination, and exchange of information in each of the participating countries. Each country has designated a national inter-agency team. These teams take on a key role to coordinate the efforts at national level and make the link between the national level and the regional network. Project funds are available to support coordination work at national level in the three Baltic countries.
* Development and reinforcement of safe shelter and assistance programmes for women VOT for sexual exploitation in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
The Nordic Baltic pilot project financially supports service providing structures in the Baltic countries to initiate (or reinforce existing) specialised shelter and assistance programmes for women victims of trafficking. The programmes include housing, medical and psychological services, legal advice, social support, training, and assistance for job insertion.
* Capacity building and training activities
Capacity building and training elements are important parts of the process towards developing a victim-centred programme of support and assistance in the region. Nordic-Baltic regional capacity building seminars have focused on making an assessment of existing practices, on identifying good models and practices, and on developing new models and guidelines that better respond to the needs of the victims. The project also provides some limited funds for training activities at national level in the Baltic countries.
* Development of regional resources and standards for victim support
The Nordic-Baltic Network is developing shared resources aimed at setting standards and at guiding the work to develop even better programmes for victim support and assistance, addressing different areas such as:
Identification of women victims of trafficking
Residence/legal status and reflection delay
Shelter and specialised services
Referrals and Safe returns/resettlement
Victim protection and data protection
Compensation and Financial assistance